Preview of 2011: the anniversaries - Telegraph Preview of the Year Preview of 2011: the anniversaries The Berlin wall went up 50 years ago, the year Diana, Princess of Wales was born, and it’s the centenary of the launch of the Titanic. Christopher Howse considers the milestones of the year ahead . Princess Diana in 1997 Photo: REX Lord Fiske, chairman of the Decimal Currency Board, shopping at Woolworths, London Photo: HULTON GETTY Christopher Howse JANUARY 1 Basil Dearden, Ealing film director, born 1911 (died 1971). The Blue Lamp (1950); Victim (1961). 3 Siege of Sidney Street, off the Commercial Road in Stepney, in the East End of London, 1911.

Following the shooting dead of three policemen in a raid on a jeweller’s by Latvians on December 16, some of the robbers on the run barricaded themselves in 100 Sidney Street where they were besieged by armed police and a detachment of Scots Guards, called in by Winston Churchill, the Home Secretary, who arrived to see the action. After a fire, the bodies of William Sokolow and Fritz Svaars were discovered there. 3 The millionth Morris Minor produced, 1961. 4 Bill Sowerbutts, nurseryman and broadcaster, born 1911 (died 1990). Appeared in How does your Garden Grow, 1947-51, and its successor. Gardeners’ Question Time, 1951-83. Related Articles 8 Francis Bourgeois, founder of Dulwich Picture Gallery, died 1811 (born 1756). 8 Gordon Lonsdale, leader of the Portland spy-ring collecting naval secrets, arrested 1961.

10 Dashiell Hammet, author of The Maltese Falcon and other hard-boiled detective novels, died 1961 (born 1894). 17 Blessed Joseph Vaz, the “Apostle of Ceylon”, died 1711 (born Goa, 1651). 17 Francis Galton, eugenicist, (born 1822) died 1911. Convinced that a galaxy of genius could be produced if “a 20th part of the cost and pains were spent in measures for the improvement of the human race that is spent on the improvement of the breed of horses and cattle”. 20 John F Kennedy sworn in as President of the United States, aged 43, 1961. 26 Robert Scott born 1811 (died 1887). One half of the duo behind Liddell and Scott’s Greek Lexicon (see February 6). Master of Balliol 1854, thwarting the reforming schemes of Benjamin Jowett.

Appointed Dean of Rochester by Gladstone, 1870, to allow Jowett into the mastership. 26 Charles Dilke (born 1843) died 1911. In Gladstone’s second administration, set up a royal commission on the housing of the working classes in 1884, its members including the Prince of Wales, Cardinal Manning, and Lord Salisbury. In 1885 accused by his brother’s wife’s sister (with whose mother he had carried on an affair) of seducing her. Dilke failed to persuade a jury that this was false. 29 Angela Thirkell, novelist, died 1961 (born 1890). 30 John Fergusson, Scottish colourist painter, died 1961 (born 1874). 30 Roy Eldridge, American jazz trumpeter, born 1911 (died 1989). 30 Christina Foyle, bookseller, born 1911 (died 1999).

Started Foyle’s literary luncheons, 1930, attending 662 of the 664 held in her liftetime. Refused to allow cash-registers in the shop in Charing Cross Road, where there was low pay and no inventory of stock. FEBRUARY 1 Arthur Henry Hallam, the subject of Tennyson’s In Memoriam, born 1811 (died 1833). 3 Sarah Kane, playwright, born 1971 (died 1999). Blasted, Royal Court, 1995. Hanged herself while depressed. 4 Lucius Septimius Severus, Roman Emperor, died at York, 211, after four years conducting military campaigns against Northerners. Succeeded by Caracalla (died 217), jointly with Geta his brother, until he murdered him in December 211. 5 Jussi Björling, opera tenor, born, Dalama, Sweden, 1911 (died 1960). 6 Henry Liddell born 1811 (died 1898).

Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (1855-91), for whose daughter, Alice, Charles Dodgson wrote Alice in Wonderland in 1862. Edited with Robert Scott a Greek Lexicon first published in 1843, with the eighth edition revised by Liddell in 1897. 6 Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, born 1911 (died 2004). During his film career, played George “The Gipper” Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American (1940), and a double amputee in Kings Row (1942). Governor of California, 1967-75. Elected Republican President 1981, re-elected 1985. Shot in the lung 1981; on being taken to the operating theatre remarked to the surgeons, “I hope you’re all Republicans,” and to his wife “Honey, I forgot to duck.” Advocated supply-side economics and a cut in taxes.

Instituted Strategic Defence Initiative, 1983, nicknamed “Star Wars”, and later signed arms-limitation treaties with Mikhail Gorbachev. The Berlin Wall fell in the last year of his presidency. 7 Regency declared on the relapse of George III into sickness and madness, 1811. 8 Small earthquake, London, 1761. 15 Decimal currency introduced, 1971. 19 Merle Oberon born (as Estelle Merle O’Brien Thompson) 1911 (died 1979). Anne Boleyn in The Private Life of Henry VIII, starring Charles Laughton (1933). Cathy, opposite Laurence Olivier, in Wuthering Heights (1939). As Georges Sand in A Song to Remember (1945), she was obliged to deliver the line: “Chopin, I want you to meet Franz Liszt.” 23 Alfred Felix Landon, “Freddie” Beeston, one of the foremost Arabists of the century, born 1911 (died 1995).

Laudian Professor of Arabic, Oxford, 1955-78. 26 Gordon Fraser, greeting cards seller, born 1911 (died 1981). Sold 100 million cards a year by the time of his death. 27 Rudolf Steiner, anthroposophist, born 1861 (died 1925). Francis White, founder of White’s Chocolate House, St James’s, out of which White’s Club grew, died in February 1711. MARCH 1 The Spectator began to appear daily, except for Sundays, 1711, until December 6, 1712. Of the 555 issues, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele wrote about equal numbers, with Eustace Budgell writing 29. 2 Percy Grainger, composer, died 1961 (born in Brighton, Victoria, Australia 1882). Concert pianist, London 1901-14. Moved to New York on outbreak of war. Gave his enthusiasms as: sex, race, athletics, speech, and art.

Practised flagellation and considered incest an efficient means to safeguard racial purity. Invented a Nordic English in which telephone became thor-juice-talker. Collected folk songs and composed 400 works. 3 Jean Harlow, Hollywood’s “Blonde Bombshell”, born 1911 (died 1937). 3 Paul Wittgenstein, one-armed pianist and brother of the philosopher Ludwig, died 1961 (born 1887) 6 George Formby, entertainer, died 1961 (born George Hoy Booth, 1904). Blind until a coughing fit restored his sight at a few weeks old. Left school at seven to train as a jockey. On his father’s death in 1922, followed in his footsteps as music-hall act “George Formby”. Mastered the banjulele. Married Beryl Ingham, a champion clog-dancer, 1924. Made 20 films. Recorded 189 songs.

Beryl died on Christmas day, 1960, and Formby was engaged to a young schoolteacher within six weeks, dying of a heart attack before the planned wedding. Catchphrase: “Turned out nice again, hasn’t it.” 8 Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor, died 1961 (born 1879). Secured his mother’s release from an asylum. Unhappily married; long affair with Emerald Cunard. Conducted concerts with the Halle during the First World War. His opera company collapsed with his bankruptcy, 1920. Established London Philharmonic Orchestra, at Queen’s Hall, 1932. Championed Delius. Queen’s Hall bombed, 1941. Divorced his wife in Idaho, 1942; remarried 1943. From 1946 took on Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Credited with many witticisms such as: “The sound of a harpsichord – two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm.” 11 Fitzroy Maclean born 1911 (died 1996).

Joined Special Air Service, 1942. In 1943 led military mission to Tito, whose communist partisans were chosen for Birtish support rather than General Draza Mihailovic’s royalist Chetniks. Autobiography Eastern Approaches, 1949. 13 L. Ron Hubbard born 1911 (died 1986). After a voluminous science-fiction output, published Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950), which he called “a milestone for Man comparable to his discovery of fire”. Founded Church of Scientology, 1953. 15 Dr Richard Beeching, who was to axe many branch lines, appointed head of British Railways, 1961. 16 Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, died 1861 (born 1786). 16 Sybille Bedford, née von Schoenebeck, 1911 (died 2006), author of A Visit to Don Otavio (1953).

19 Thomas Ken, author of the hymn “Awake, my soul, and with the sun” died 1711 (born 1637). Deprived of the bishopric of Bath and Wells for refusing to take the oath to William and Mary, 1691. 22 John Passmore Edwards (born 1823) died 1911. In 1876, bought The Echo, the first halfpenny newspaper. Devoted his profits to philanthropy, founding eight hospitals, five convalescent homes, four boys’ homes, 24 libraries, three art galleries, a museum, and erecting many drinking-fountains. 24 Joseph Barbera, founder with William Hanna of cartoon studio, born 1911 (died 2006). Produced Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones and Top Cat. 25 Jack Ruby, killer of Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F Kennedy, born 1911 (died 1967). 26 J L Austin, philosopher, born 1911 (died 1960).

26 Tennessee Williams, playwright, born 1911 (died 1983). The Glass Menagerie (1944), A Streetcar Named Desire (1948), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), The Night of the Iguana (1961). 26 Leigh Bowery, performance artist, born 1961 (died 1994). Arrived in London from Australia, 1980, and from 1985 became centrepiece of Taboo nightclub, making his own remarkable outfits. Had his cheeks pierced to accommodate illuminated light bulbs. Sat for Lucian Freud. 26 Bangladesh declared independent, 1971. 30 Robert Bunsen, inventor of the burner, born, Göttingen, 1811 (died 1899). Discovered elements caesium and rubidium. 31 Sir Geoffrey Faber, publisher, died 1961 (born 1889). Founded Faber and Faber, 1929, the extra Faber being for effect.

31 Robert Hamer, film director, born 1911 (died 1963). Directed The Haunted Mirror episode of Dead of Night (1945); It always Rains on Sunday (1947); Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949). APRIL 1 Susan Boyle, singer, born 1961. 5 Robert Raikes, promoter of Sunday schools, died 1811 (born 1736). Set up a Sunday school in Gloucester in 1780; by 1786 the movement had enrolled 200,000 children. 7 Vanessa Bell, painter, died 1961 (born 1879). Daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen, first editor of Dictionary of National Biography; sister of Virginia Woolf. Married Clive Bell, 1907. Hopelessly mixed up with Bloomsbury group. By Duncan Grant had a daughter, Angelica who married David Garnett. 9 St John’s College, Cambridge, founded 1511 through the energy of John Fisher as an executor of the will of Lady Margaret Beaufort.

9 William Law died 1761 (born 1686). His Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (1729) had great influence, on Samuel Johnson, John Wesley and John Henry Newman, among others. 11 Adolf Eichmann went on trial in Jerusalem for war crimes, 1961. 12 American Civil War began, 1861. 12 Yuri Gagarin the first man in space 1961. 16 Guy Burgess, spy, born 1911 (died 1963). Became known for his drinking and homosexuality at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he joined the Apostles. Met Kim Philby in 1933, to whom he recommended Anthony Blunt and Donald Maclean as agents for Soviet intelligence. Visited Moscow, 1934. Joined MI6, 1938. Second secretary, Washington, August 1950. Disappeared with Maclean to Moscow, May 25, 1951. 19 Bay of Pigs invasion by Cuban exiles failed, 1961.

23 General de Gaulle broadcast an appeal, “Françaises, Français, aidez-moi!” in the face of a coup in Algeria, 1961. 29 Tariq ibn Ziyad and a largely Berber army landed in Spain, 711, beginning the Ummayad invasion that defeated Roderick, the last Visigothic king, and led to centuries of Spanish-Moorish conflict before the reconquest of Granada in 1492. MAY 2 Authorised Version of the Bible put on sale, 1611, according to popular myth. The true date in 1611 is unknown, there being no official publication day. 7 Rabindranath Tagore, writer, born Calcutta 1861 (died 1941). Nobel prize for Literature, 1913. 8 George Blake sentenced to 42 years for spying for Russia, 1961. 8 Anthony Wedgwood Benn barred from taking his seat after his re-election on succeeding as Viscount Stansgate, 1961.

10 Beyond the Fringe opened at the Fortune Theatre, London, 1961, with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller. 11 Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins, joined at the breast-bone, born 1811 (died 1874). Settled in America, 1839, marrying sisters and having 10 and 11 children. They died three hours apart. 11 Futurist exhibition, Milan, 1911. 11 Phil Silvers, comedian, born 1911 (died 1985). Played Sergeant Bilko in television series, 1955-59. 13 Gary Cooper died 1961 (born 1901). Mr Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Sergeant York (1941), High Noon (1952). 17 Maureen O’Sullivan born 1911 (died 1998). Played Jane in six Tarzan films.

18 Roger Joseph Boscovich, astronomer, physicist and Jesuit, born, Dubrovnik, 1711 (died 1787). 18 Gustav Mahler, composer, (born 1860) died 1911. Symphonies included the choral Eighth, the Ninth (first performed in Vienna in 1912), and the unfinished Tenth. 18 Michael Berry, Lord Hartwell, born 1911 (died 2001), newspaper proprietor. Took full control of The Daily Telegraph in 1954. “I was always terribly shocked,” he said, “when other people ran their newspapers like biscuit factories, just to make money.” Launched The Sunday Telegraph in 1961. Allowed Conrad, Lord Black, to gain control of the Telegraph, 1985. “It was widely observed that Hartwell had contributed to his own downfall by his style of management,” wrote WF Deedes. 19 Nellie Melba, opera singer, born Helen Mitchell in Richmond, Australia, 1861 (died 1931).

Peach Melba created in her honour by Auguste Escoffier, at the Savoy Hotel, London, 1892. 22 James I first created baronets, 1611. 25 Andrea Dunbar, playwright, born 1961 (died 1990). Author of Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1982). 26 David Hume, philosopher, born 1711 (died 1776). Dissatisfied by the notions of causality, personal identity and, indeed, God. Widely known in his day for his History of England, seen as a Tory work. 27 Vincent Price, film actor, born 1911 (died 1993). 28 Randolph Churchill, only son of Sir Winston Churchill, born 1911 (died 1968). His book The Fight for the Tory Leadership, a pro-Macmillan account of the succession of Alec Douglas-Home as Prime Minister, was exploded in the Spectator of January 17, 1964, when its editor Iain Macleod denounced the Tory “magic circle”.

Began a biography of his father that was finished by Martin Gilbert. 28 Thora Hird born 1911 (died 2003). Appeared on stage at the Royalty Theatre, Morecambe, aged eight weeks. Made more than 100 films. Starred on television with Freddie Frinton in Meet the Wife in the 1960s. Played in Last of the Summer Wine, from 1986 to 2003. Performed two monologues in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads series: Cream Cracker under the Settee (1988) and Waiting for the Telegram (1998). 29 W S Gilbert (born 1836) died 1911. Contributed puns, drawings and verses, including the Bab Ballads to Fun, a rival to Punch, 1861-74. After much success as a playwright in the 1870s, Gilbert began an association with Arthur Sullivan on the series of Savoy operas. Died of heart failure after swimming to save a girl he thought was drowning in the lake at his house at Harrow Weald, Middlesex.

31 Titanic launched, Belfast, 1911. 31 South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth, 1961. John Opie, painter, born in May 1761 (died 1807). “There is such a young man come out of Cornwall,” Joshua Reynolds declared of him. “Like Caravaggio, but finer.” JUNE 3 Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the shrapnel shell, born 1761 (died 1842). 6 Transit of Venus, across the Sun, 1761, observed by English astronomers, Jeremiah Dixon and Charles Mason, in South Africa. 6 Carl Jung, psychiatrist, died 1961 (born 1875). 7 Patrick Brontë, father of Charlotte, Emily, Ann and Branwell, all of whom died before him, died 1861 (born 1777). 7 Stanley Unwin, entertaining mangler of the English language, born 1911 (died 2002).

Rendered part of Kipling’s “If”: “If you can trusty-how when all suspissy-hocus, and onnyswarky molly pensers too … you’ll be a bipeddey-male of the spiecie neanderthole. O joy.” 8 Duke and Duchess of Kent married, 1961. 9 Terence Rattigan, born 1911 (died 1977). Of French Without Tears (1936), the critic James Agate wrote, “This is not a play. It is not anything. It is nothing. It is not witty. It has no plot. It is almost without characterisation.” But it ran for 1,000 performances. The Winslow Boy (1946); The Browning Version (1948); The Deep Blue Sea (1952), Separate Tables (1956). 10 The Duke of Edinburgh born at a house called Mon Repos, Corfu, 1921. 11 Norman Malcolm, philosopher, born 1911 (died 1990). Dreaming, 1959.

Critic of Cartesian dualism and Chomskian linguistic theory. Memory and Mind, 1977. 14 Harriet Beecher Stowe born, Litchfield, Connecticut, 1811 (died 1896). Her Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) greatly influenced the campaign to abolish slavery in the United States. 14 Boy George born 1961. 15 Rev W [Wilbert] Awdry, clergyman and inventor of Thomas the Tank Engine, born 1911 (died 1997). 17 James Cameron, journalist, born 1911 (died 1985). 19 John Bowes born 1811 (died 1885). With money from coal he built a museum at Barnard Castle for his collection of French art, which opened seven years after his death. 21 Manu Chao, singer, born 1961. 22 Coronation of George V and Queen Mary, 1911. 24 Juan Manuel Fangio, racing-car driver, born, Argentina, 1911 (died 1995).

27 Michael Ramsey enthronised as 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, 1961. 29 Elizabeth Barrett Browning died in her husband’s arms, 1861 (born 1806). Married Robert Browning 1846 and fled with him from her father to Italy. Published narrative poem Aurora Leigh, 1856, to acclaim, Ruskin calling it the greatest poem of the century, though on her death Edward Fitzgerald exclaimed: “No more Aurora Leighs, thank God!” 29 Bernard Herrmann, composer, born 1911 (died 1975). Wrote scores for Citizen Kane and for Hitchcock films including Psycho, North by Northwest and Vertigo. 30 Ruskin Spear, painter, born 1911 (died 1990). 30 Czeslaw Milosz, Polish poet, born 1911 (died 2004). Nobel prize for literature 1980. JULY 1 Diana, Princess of Wales, born Diana Spencer 1961 (died 1997).

Daughter of 8th Earl Spencer and his first wife, Frances, later Shand Kydd, who divorced in 1969. Engaged to Prince of Wales, February 1980. Married, St Paul’s, July 1981. “This is the stuff of which fairytales are made,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury in his sermon. Prince William born, June 21, 1982; Prince Harry, September 15, 1984. Diana was admired in the fashion world, but felt unhappy and isolated in the Royal family. By 1986 both she and her husband had taken lovers. From 1987, when she visited Britain’s first Aids ward, she took on many charitable undertakings. Diana and the Prince of Wales each made use of the press to spread damaging information about the other. She briefed the author of Diana: Her True Story (1992). The formal separation of the couple was announced in the Commons, December 9, 1992. Further affairs with an art dealer, a rugby captain and a heart surgeon.

Television interview with Martin Bashir, November 20, 1995, seen by 23 million. Divorce, 1996. Campaigned in Angola against landmines, 1997. Affair with Dodi Fayed, ending in their deaths in a car crash in Paris, 24 minutes after midnight on the morning of Sunday, August 31, 1997. Her death brought a week of astonishing scenes of public grief. 2 Ernest Hemingway shot himself 1961 (born 1899). 3 Julian Assange born 1971. 4 Samuel Richardson, novelist died 1761 (born 1689). Pamela published November 1740, to be followed the next April by Henry Fielding’s parodic novel Shamela. Clarissa, 1748. 5 Georges Pompidou born 1911 (died 1974). Prime Minister of France, 1962-68; President 1969-74.

6 LaVerne Andrews, of the singing Andrews Sisters, born 1911 (died 1967). 9 William Burrell, art collector, born 1861 (died 1958). Gave collection and an endowment to Glasgow. Museum opened, 1983. 9 Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, born 1911 (died 1995). Took part in the commando raid on the Lofoten islands, 1941, bringing back an Enigma machine of great value to the code-breakers at Bletchley Park. On D-Day marched across Pegasus Bridge accompanied by his piper, apparently indifferent to enemy fire. Severely wounded after four days’ heavy fighting. 9 Mervyn Peake, artist and writer, born 1911 (died 1968). Titus Groan, 1946; Gormenghast, 1951; Titus Alone, 1959. 12 Cyril Lord, carpet manufacturer, born 1911 (died 1984).

Established factory at Donaghadee, Co Down, 1956, producing five yards of man-made-fibre carpet a minute. Television advertisement jingle: “This is luxury you can afford by Cyril Lord.” Retired to the West Indies 1967; his firm collapsed in 1968. 13 George Gilbert Scott born 1811 (died 1878). Vastly productive architect with more than 500 completed projects, including the Albert Memorial (1872) . He thought his best church was All Souls, Haley Hill, Halifax. 14 Terry-Thomas, actor, born Thomas Terry Stevens 1911 (died 1990). His speciality role of amiable bounders brought him riches, but he was found to be living in the 1980s in reduced circumstances in a charity flat in Barnes, until a benefit performance allowed him to spend his last year in a nursing home in Godalming. 16 Ginger Rogers born 1911 (died 1995).

Made 73 films, dancing with Fred Astaire in 10, including Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936) and Follow the Fleet (1936). 18 William Thackeray, novelist, born 1811 (died 1863). Made his mark with Vanity Fair, serialised from January 1847 for 19 months, “a novel without a hero” in which George Osborne, a young “padded booby”, marries Amelia Sedley but wants to run away with Becky Sharp before meeting his Waterloo. 22 Record July temperature of 97F at Epsom in prolonged heatwave and drought, 1911. 28 George England born probably in 1811 (died 1878), builder of locomotives, four of the surviving five, Princess, Prince, Palmerston and Welsh Pony, running on the Ffestiniog Railway. 28 Charles West Cope, history painter, born 1811 (died 1890).

Painted murals for the Houses of Parliament, some of which, such as his scenes from the British poets, blistered with damp before others were even begun. 29 Leslie Scarman, judge, born 1911 (died 2004). Chaired inquiries into disturbances in Northern Ireland (1969), the riot in Red Lion Square (1975), the Grunwick trade dispute (1977) and the Brixton riots (1981). 30 Giorgio Vasari, painter and architect, born 1511 (died 1574). From 1550 published Lives of the Painters. 30 Jem Belcher, pugilist, died at the Coach and Horses, Frith Street, Soho, 1811 (born 1781). A butcher by trade, he won the championship, aged 21, from Gentleman John Jackson in the 16th round of a fight forbidden by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. Two years later lost an eye in a game of racquets and became landlord of the Jolly Brewers, Wardour Street, Soho.

Lost a match against Tom Cribb in 41 rounds in 1807, and again in 31 rounds in 1809, his last fight. AUGUST 2 Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea died 1861 (born 1810). Sent Florence Nightingale to the Crimea, 1854. Built extraordinary church in Italian Romanesque style at Wilton, Wiltshire, 1845. 4 Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, born 1961. 6 Lucille Ball born 1911 (died 1989). Comedian of an attention-seeking flavour, hugely successful in sit-coms such as I Love Lucy (1951-57). 8 Frank Buchman, founder of Moral Rearmament died 1961 (born 1878). 9 John Hardman baptised 1811 (died 1867). Manufactured ecclesiastical furnishings, notably for A W N Pugin, using medieval designs but the latest machine techniques, and metalwork and stained glass for Houses of Parliament.

9 Vincent Novello, music publisher, died 1861 (born 1781). 9 Internment without trial introduced in Northern Ireland, 1971. 13 Berlin Wall begun after border with West Berlin sealed off, 1961. 16 Fritz Schumacher, economist, born 1911 (died 1977). Presented ideas on “intermediate technology” at Cambridge, September 1964. Small is Beautiful, 1973. 20 J H Plumb, historian, born 1911 (died 2001). England in the Eighteenth Century (1950) sold a million copies. Master of Christ’s, 1978-82 22 Mona Lisa stolen from Louvre, 1911 (recovered 1913). 27 Tomás Luis de Victoria, polyphonic choral composer, died 1611 (born 1548). Spent time in Rome but lived and worked mostly in Spain.

30 Théophile Gautier, writer of conventionally romantic bohemian views, born 1811 (died 1872). SEPTEMBER 8 Simon Forman, astrologer and physician who summoned angels and other spirits, died 1611 (born 1552). He fell down dead in a boat in the middle of the Thames, and a storm immediately arose. 16 Percy Chapman, cricketer, died 1961 (born 1900). Youngest England captain, 1926. Restored confidence to English cricket and brought humour and good grace to the game. Alcohol came to dominate his life. 17 Ban the Bomb demonstration in Trafalgar Square ended with 850 arrests, 1961. 18 Dag Hammarskjöld, UN secretary-general from 1953, killed in plane crash, 1961. 19 William Golding, novelist, born 1911 (died 1993). Lord of the Flies (1945), Pincher Martin (1956), The Spire (1964).

26 St Colman Elo, of the O’Neill family, died 611. Author of The Alphabet of Piety, in Irish. 29 Vikings plundered Canterbury, 1011, and captured Archbishop Aelfeah (Alphege), who was martyred the following year. Honoured as a saint even by King Cnut. OCTOBER 1 The last passenger steam train ran on the London Underground, 1961. 4 Michael Hordern, actor, born 1911 (died 1995). Passport to Pimlico (1949), Jacques in As You Like It at Stratford (1952), a performance that Kenneth Tynan said was “rooted in self-disgust, but with a tattered plume of merriment capering always over his head”. Lear in King Lear for Jonathan Miller at the Nottingham Playhouse (1969) and the philosopher Moore in Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers (1972). 5 Brian O’Nolan, writer, born 1911 (died 1966).

As Flann O’Brien: At Swim-Two-Birds (1939), The Third Policeman (published posthumously, 1967); as Myles na gCopaleen: An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth, 1941) and “Cruiskeen Lawn” columns in the Irish Times, 1940-66. A civil servant, he drank more and more until he was going to bed at four o’clock in the afternoon. 10 William Brydon, the “last man” to survive the retreat from Kabul, born 1811 (died 1873). In the retreat from Kabul to Jalalabad in 1842, of the 16,000 garrison lamoist all but he were killed. He survived a blow to the head from an Afghan knife thanks to a copy of Blackwood’s Magazine kept under his forage cap. Lady Butler painted him in The Remnants of an Army. 10 Fridtjof Nansen, polar explorer, born near Oslo 1861 (died 1930).

10 Clare Hollingworth, journalist, born 1911. After less than a week at The Daily Telegraph sent the first eyewitness account of the German invasion of Poland, 1939. Later reported from wars in Palestine (surviving the bombing of the King David Hotel, 1946), Algeria, China, Aden and Vietnam. 11 Bernard Partridge, Punch cartoonist 1891-1945, born 1861 (died 1945). 11 Chico Marx died 1961 (born 1887). 18 West Side Story opened as a film, 1961. 22 Franz Liszt born 1811 (died 1886). Astonishingly accomplished pianist, prolific composer and tireless tourer. 25 Private Eye first published, 1961. 26 Sorley MacLean, poet, born 1911 (died 1996). 29 Joseph Pulitzer died 1911 (born in Hungary, 1847). Publisher of St Louis Post Dispatch and New York World.

Prize in his name first awarded 1917. 31 Augustus John, painter, died 1961 (born 1878). Went to the Slade in 1894, joined by his sister Gwen in 1895. After hitting his head on a submerged rock near Tenby in 1895 he was found to be an altogether wilder character. After the death of his wife Ida in 1907, his mistress Dorelia took on the upbringing of the eight or nine children. Much given to drink and liaisons. Portraits included Thomas Hardy and Bernard Shaw (Fitzwilliam) and Lady Ottoline Morrell (National Portrait Gallery). 31 Post Office Tower in London shaken by an IRA bomb, 1971. NOVEMBER 1 Lady Colin Campbell, journalist, (born Gertrude Blood, 1857) died 1911. In 1885 entangled in a sensational divorce case against the son of the Duke of Argyll, whom she accused of cruelty and who accused her of adultery with four named men including the head of the London Fire Brigade.

The jury decided no adultery had been committed, and no divorce was granted, but Lady Colin was said by one newspaper to have had “the unbridled lust of a Messalina and the indelicate readiness of a common harlot”. Wrote for the Pall Mall Gazette and became art editor of The World. Having been excluded from good society she found great success with Etiquette and Good Society, which sold 92,000 copies in her lifetime. 1 Sidney Wood, American tennis player, born 1911 (died 2009). Won Wimbledon aged 19 in 1931. 2 James Thurber, writer and cartoonist, died 1961 (born 1894). The Years with Ross, about the New Yorker, published 1959. 5 Roy Rogers, cowboy actor and singer, born Leonard Slye 1911 (died 1998). Made more than 100 films, many with his horse Trigger (1932-65). 6 Philip Hope-Wallace, opera critic, born 1911 (died 1979).

Regular at El Vino’s in Fleet Street, where he retailed his sufferings at the hands of copytakers and subeditors, who on one occasion turned a phrase about Tosca being “like a tigress robbed of her whelps” into “a tiger robbed of his whelks”. 9 Jill Dando, television broadcaster, born 1961 (shot on her doorstep in Fulham, 1999). 12 Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans, 1953, born 1911 (died 2007). Rector of St Stephen Walbrook, London, 1953-2003. 13 John Moore, Army officer, born 1761. Struck by a cannon shot and died at Corunna January 16, 1809. Charles Wolfe’s poem on his burial published, 1817. 13 Arthur Hugh Clough, poet, died 1861 (born 1819).

Narrative poem The Bothie of Toper-na-Fuosich (1848) renamed The Bothie of Toper-na-Vuolich after the original title was found to conceal a Gaelic obscenity. 16 John Bright, born 1811 (died 1889), radical politician. Active in the Anti-Corn Law League in the 1840s, opposed the Crimean War then suffered some kind of breakdown that kept him out of public life for two years, 1856-58. Pursued parliamentary reform in the 1860s. His concern for the poor went with a commitment to Quakerism. 27 Clovis, King of the Franks, died, 511. Baptised, probably in 496, changing the history of France. DECEMBER 1 Madame Tussaud born, Marie Grosholtz, 1761 (died 1850). Gained experience in making death-masks during the French Revolution. Came to England, 1802, touring with her waxworks.

4 Contraceptive pill made available on the NHS by Enoch Powell, as health minister, 1961. 9 Lee J. Cobb born 1911 (died 1976). Films included On the Waterfront (1954) and Twelve Angry Men (1957). 10 Joseph Dalton Hooker, botanist (born 1817), died 1911). Friend of Darwin, director of Kew Gardens, expert in taxonomy and plant distribution. 11 Marie Curie awarded her second Nobel prize, for chemistry, 1911. 12 Thomas Sutton, founder of the Hospital or almshouse in Charterhouse, London, which survives, and Charterhouse school, which moved to Godalming in 1872, died 1611 (born 1532). 14 Prince Albert, consort to Victoria, died 1861 (born 1819). 14 Roald Amundsen reached South Pole, 1911. 19 Marjory Fleming, child diarist, died 1811 (born 1803).

Her diaries, from 1810-1811, include a verse on sleeping at the bottom of her cousin Isa’s bed: “Oft I embrace her feet of lillys / But she has goton all the pillies.” The diaries were first published in 1858 and fully in 1934. 21 Frederick Lawton, judge, born 1911 (died 2001). In 1965 sentenced gang-leader Charles Richardson to 25 years. Judge in 1969 at trial of the Kray twins for a third murder, of which they were acquitted. In retirement wrote letters to The Daily Telegraph. 24 Frank Richards, inventor of Billy Bunter, died 1961 (born Charles Hamilton, 1876). His father, a heavy drinking journalist, died when he was seven.

From the age of 17 he wrote for boys’ papers: for The Gem (founded 1907) as Martin Clifford, about St Jim’s school, and for The Magnet (founded 1908) as Frank Richards, about Greyfriars, with Bunter and friends including Harry Wharton and the “dusky nabob” Hurree Jamset Ram Singh. With 30 pseudonyms he produced 1.5 million words a year, on one day turning out 18,000 words. After The Magnet and The Gem closed in the Second World War, he wrote 39 Bunter books and scripts for a televised version. He dressed in a black skull-cap and dressing-gown with trousers bicycle-clipped against the cold. 25 St Paul’s Cathedral declared completed by Parliament, 1711. 28 Bryan King born 1811 (died 1895). Rector of St George-in-the-East, east London, disrupted with riots for 18 months from 1859 against supposed ritualism, such as having candles on the altar and choristers in surplices.

28 Max Jaffa, violinist, born 1911 (died 1991). Played with the Mantovani Orchestra, as lead violin on their hit recording Charmaine (1951). Leader of BBC Palm Court Orchestra for series Grand Hotel from 1956. Played for 27 years from 1960 with his Spa Orchestra each summer at Scarborough. 29 Klaus Fuchs, physicist, born Rüsselsheim, Germany, 1911 (died 1988). Granted British nationality, 1942. Worked on project to develop atomic bomb, being posted to Los Alamos, Texas. In 1950 was arrested in Britain for transmitting information about nuclear weapons to secret agents of the Soviet Union; served nine years in prison. Went to live in East Germany. 30 Abbot Samson of Bury St Edmunds died 1211 (born 1135) Gerontius, British-born military commander to usurping Roman emperors Constantine III and Maximus, died in Spain, 411. Aethelred, Lord of Mercia, died 911.

Married Alfred’s daughter and fought the Vikings. Osbert Parsley, for 50 years a singing man at Norwich cathedral, born 1510 or 1511 (died 1584). Henry Hudson, explorer who attempted the north-east, then the north-west passage to the East, cast adrift by mutineers, 1611. Edward King, friend of Milton who inspired his “Lycidas” when he drowned off Anglesey in 1637, born in 1611 or 1612. John Wade, plainchant scholar, probably born in 1711 (died 1786). He may well have written Adeste Fidelis (Oh, Come All Ye Faithful), for it was found among his manuscripts.

Question: Which carpet company’s advertising jingle proudly announced “This is luxury you can afford”?
Answer: Cyril Lord